Bass Player News For The Week Ending 3/2/18

* Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea has written an op-ed for Time magazine about the opioid crisis in America, addressing his own issues with addiction as well as those of his friends. Flea says he uses meditation, exercise, prayer, therapy and work to help him “stay away from the temptation of drugs.”

* Bryan Beller is among the musicians featured in the documentary Joe Satriani: Beyond The Supernova, directed by his son, ZZ Satriani, which makes its broadcast premiere March 6 on AXS TV.

* Longtime bassist Gerry McAvoy’s playing will be featured when all 16 of Rory Gallagher’s solo albums are reissued on March 16 to commemorate what would have been the late Irish guitarist’s 70th birthday, which falls on March 2.

* The late Lemmy and Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan will be featured in an upcoming series of limited edition Rock Iconz figures being released by Knucklebonz this summer. Only 3,000 of each figure will be manufactured.

* Paul McCartney has posted a new Q&A on his official web site in which, among other topics, he addresses his best cures for jet lag.

* blink-182 has stopped using FedEx to ship its band merchandise due to the company’s continuing business relationship with the National Rifle Association, with Mark Hoppus tweeting a message encouraging his followers “to do the same.”

* The Rolling Stones announced a U.K. tour, including Ireland, for the summer, beginning May 17 in Dublin and finishing June 19 in London.

* Led Zeppelin’s first ever Record Store Day release will be a limited edition seven-inch single on yellow vinyl featuring unheard mixes of “Rock and Roll” and “Friends.” Jimmy Page oversaw both of the mixes.

* Metallica has announced another North American leg of its WorldWired Tour, beginning Sept. 2 in Madison, Wisconsin, and wrapping up March 13, 2019 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.